Device Manager Tracking Agent for Data Privacy Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in controlling and monetizing data tracking on their devices, as online entities can invade privacy and compromise data security, with existing methods lacking user control and compensation mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A data tracking manager system that allows users to establish accounts, set fee schedules, and use a tracking agent to negotiate and receive payments for data tracking, preventing unauthorized data collection by intercepting and managing requests from online entities, ensuring user consent and payment for data usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If service providers place device-side data (cookies, pixels) to track device usage, then they can collect user data for targeted content, but user privacy is invaded and users lose control over their data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser data controlVSAvoidprivacy invasion

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by establishing user accounts and fee schedules before any data tracking occurs. The tracking agent is pre-configured to intercept and negotiate data tracking requests, ensuring users have control and can monetize their data before it is collected by service providers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tracking agent acts as an intermediary between service providers and user devices. It intercepts data tracking requests from service providers, negotiates compensation with them, and manages the placement of device-side data, thereby giving users control over their data while still allowing tracking when compensation is received.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If users allow data tracking without control mechanisms, then service providers can collect data freely, but users cannot receive compensation or control what data is tracked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoiduser control over data

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing users to set up their own accounts, configure fee schedules, and manage their data tracking preferences through the tracking agent. Users automatically receive compensation for their data without needing to manually negotiate with each service provider, as the tracking agent handles negotiations automatically based on user-defined parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If users manually control each data tracking request, then they maintain privacy control, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoiddata management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking agent serves as an intermediary that automatically manages data tracking requests according to user-defined fee schedules. Instead of users manually controlling each request, the tracking agent handles negotiations and decisions automatically, maintaining privacy protection while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by allowing users to define fee schedules with specific parameters (data types, compensation amounts, conditions). The tracking agent uses these parameters to automatically evaluate and respond to data tracking requests, transforming complex manual decisions into automated parameter-based evaluations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of information

If no compensation mechanism exists for data tracking, then data can be collected freely by service providers, but users cannot monetize their personal data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata usage by service providersVSAvoiduser data value

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful effect of data collection (privacy invasion without compensation) into a benefit by implementing a compensation mechanism. Service providers must pay users for accessing their data through the tracking agent, transforming the previously harmful data collection process into a mutually beneficial transaction where users are compensated for their personal data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11941623B2Device manager to control data tracking on computing devices

Publication Date: 2024.03.26 PAYPAL INC

AI summary

There are provided systems and methods for a device manager to control data tracking with client devices. A device may implement a manager process or application that allows a user to set preferences and/or a schedule of rates for allowing other online service providers to track user data. This may include placement of device-side data, such as a cookie or pixel, or tracking of device data through an application. The manager process may detect when a website, online platform, application, or other entity attempts to track data on the device and may utilize the schedule of rates to request a payment from the tracking entity. If the entity agrees to the payment, the manager may allow the entity to begin tracking data. However, if the tracking entity does not agree to the payment, then the manager may prevent the tracking entity from collecting data from the device.